Rugby

Rugby's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure, ethnicity and health.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Rugby increased by 14%, from just under 87,500 to 100,000.

The addition of almost 13,000 people means this area's population was the fastest-growing in the West Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Rugby was home to, on average, 2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Change in work hours

This area saw the West Midlands' second-largest fall in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

Across the region, only East Staffordshire saw a greater fall in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 7.2% to 6.6%).

In 2011, just over 1 in 17 (5.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Rugby said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 6.5% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week increased from 3.1% to 3.2%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Rugby that rented privately increased from 6.8% to 14% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 14%, while the percentage of Rugby households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Rugby increased by 7.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rugby, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Rugby

The number of people in Rugby from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 82,000 in 2001 to just under 91,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 94% to 91%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Rugby from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 3,300 in 2001 to about 5,200 in 2011 (from 3.7% to 5.2%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 850 to just under 2,000 (from 1.0% to 2.0%).

Just under 2,000 people (1.2%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 1,000 in 2001 (2.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Rugby decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Rugby by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Rugby residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.7% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70% in 2001. The percentage of Rugby residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 13%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Rugby decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Rugby, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Rugby, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 11% between the last two censuses.

The proportion that had only a single person remained close to 28%, while the percentage of households in Rugby, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 41% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Rugby increased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Rugby, the West Midlands and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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